2 House panels recommend PUC nominee’s confirmation

August 13, 2013

Saipan Tribune; Haidee V. Eugenio; Aug, 13, 2013

By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter

The House Committees on Judiciary and Governmental Operations and the Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications have jointly recommended the confirmation of Bank of Guam’s Dave B. Guerrero to serve on the Public Utilities Commission.

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations will hold a public hearing on Guerrero’s nomination to the PUC tomorrow at 1pm.

Guerrero is currently a Bank of Guam assistant vice president, and has been in banking and finance business since 2005 in California, New York, Guam, and the CNMI.

Gov. Eloy S. Inos appointed Guerrero to serve as a PUC member on June 21.

PUC has regulatory oversight of all utilities entities in the CNMI including telecommunications, power, water, wastewater, and cable television. The commission is composed of five members appointed by the governor.

The governor’s appointees to PUC are subject to the House and Senate’s confirmation.

“Your committee reviewed all of Mr. Guerrero’s documents on file and finds that he has met all the necessary requirements pursuant to Public Law 15-35, as amended. Accordingly, Mr. Dave B. Guerrero is qualified to serve as a member of the Public Utilities Commission,” the House PUTC and JGO Committee said in a joint report to House Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan).

The report comes about a week after the two House committees held a public hearing on Guerrero’s nomination.

In that public hearing, four spoke up to support the nomination, including former representative Stanley Torres, Vincent Seman representing the Saipan Chamber of Commerce board of directors, PUC chairman Joseph Guerrero, and John “Jay” Santos.

“Dave epitomizes determination, fairness and compassion. It’s these qualities that are most needed at the CPUC particularly in these challenged times in providing utilities to the community that is consistent yet affordable,” Santos said in his written testimony attached to the House panels’ joint report. “Our community needs individuals like Dave at the CPUC to ensure that our best interests are foremost when important decisions must be made.”

The joint committee report was signed by 11 of 14 members of both the JGO and PUTC Committees chaired by Rep. Christopher Leon Guerrero (Cov-Saipan) and Rep. Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan), respectively.

If confirmed by both houses of the Legislature, Guerrero will serve a four-year term to commence on the date of his confirmation.

Guerrero has a master’s degree in economics from California State University-East Bay, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from California State University-East Bay. He also earned an associate degree in liberal arts from Northern Marianas College on Saipan. He was an adjunct instructor at NMC from August 2009 to December 2012.

The PUC nominee is also a certified anti-money laundering specialist, and is licensed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority formerly known as the National Association of Securities Dealers.